2010: Edmund Rice International Novena Theme: HEALING AND RECONCILIATION Monday, 26 April – Tuesday, 4 May Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 Introduction : We live in a time of recession and gloom. The virtue of hope appears to be at a low ebb, and consequently faith and charity may also be challenged. Leadership seems to be sadly lacking or of very poor quality in many areas of human endeavour. Many of us feel let down by our politicians, our bankers, our business leaders and even by our Church. Even the weather and Mother Nature seem to out of sympathy with us in recent months! Those of us who are Brothers feel broken by the actions of a minority of our members who so far forgot their sacred trust that they abused some of society’s most vulnerable young people placed in our care. We feel ashamed and dismayed. Our hearts go out to those who were hurt and let down. How could it have happened? But the Good Lord has reminded us: “Behold I am with you all days, even to the end of time.” It is at times like the present that we acknowledge that Christ is “Our Light in the Darkness”. It is in this spirit of fragility and humility that we approach this year’s Edmund R ice Novena and pray for healing for all concerned. We pray for forgiveness and reconciliation. It is at times like this that we need Edmund’s intercession and example more than ever. We take heart from the fact that our two Congregations, the Presentation Brothers and the Christian Brothers, at their most recent Congregation Chapters chose the following positive themes as the Way Forward, rather than wallowing in doom and gloom: “Sing to the Lord a New Song! Growing through Fragility. Engaging with Diversity. Being Brother in Christ.” [Pres Brothers, Grace Dieu, Waterford, 2005] “The time is now! The place is here! You are the People! Fly free as Edmund did before you to New Horizons, to the unknown, the not-yet-imagined. Risk leaping and falling. Trust me. Dare to be my Disciples In you I am doing something new.” [Christian Brothers, Munnar, India, 2008] Blessed Edmund too experienced a time of recession and low morale in the Ireland of his day, at the beginning of the 19th century. After the failed 1798 Rising and its brutal suppression, government was moved from Dublin to Westminster in the fallout from the 1800 Act of Union. It was in such an atmosphere that Edmund became proactive. Instead of moaning about how awful things were in Ireland or waiting for the government or the clergy to do something about it, he set about remedying the plight of poor Catholic youths in Ireland by founding his Brothers in 1802 to provide them with free education, “to raise boys to the dignity of men”. Interestingly, he took his lead from a group of women, the Presentation Sisters founded by Nano Nagle in Cork.
*In the spirit of Edmund, we dedicate this year’s Novena to Healing and Reconciliation. *The healing miracle in answer to your prayers during this Novena may be the one that will finally be accepted for Blessed Edmund being declared SAINT EDMUND. *Each country and each region will have the freedom to choose their own local healing intentions. *The Novena Prayers may be said privately or in groups. *Some may wish to link the Novena with daily attendance at Mass. Feel free. *The Novena target group is much broader than the membership of Edmund’s two Brotherhoods: *It is open to all who wish to honour Blessed Edmund, *to all (young and old) who wish to promote his Canonisation, *to all who work in his spirit, *to all who have a personal devotion to him, *to all who are grateful to him for favours received, *to all who wish to pray for a special intention, *to all who are associated with the Brothers in their ministries as formal or informal members of the Edmund Rice Network (ERN) around the world. The central point of each day’s Novena will focus on a few minutes’ quiet reflection based on (a) a short Scripture text, (b) a saying of Blessed Edmund, and (c) a short quotation from the Munnar or Grace Dieu Chapters of the Brothers. Format: 1. *Universa l Prayer for Blessed Edmund’s Canonisation 2. *Prayer of the Edmund Rice Network 3. Quiet Reflection based on: o Scripture o Saying of Edmund o Quotation from International Chapters of the Brothers 1. Special Prayer for each day of Novena 1. *Prayer for Special Intention. The prayers marked by an asterisk (*) will be the same each day of the Novena; The reflection (No.3) and special prayer (No.4) will change each day.
Day 1: Monday, 26 April 1. Universal Prayer for Blessed Edmund’s Canonisation O God, we thank you for the life of Blessed Edmund Rice. He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice. May we follow his example of faith and generosity. Grant us the courage and compassion of Blessed Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and service. Grant that soon Blessed Edmund will be declared a saint of your Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 1. Prayer of the Edmund Rice Network [ERN] Inspired by the spirit of Blessed Edmund so alive today, we as colleagues in the Edmund Rice Network dedicate ourselves to work together in our continuing mission, to tell the story of Blessed Edmund, to share his vision, and to nurture a response in those who are moved by his example. Blessed Edmund, in whose steps we follow, we entrust our lives to you. Shelter us from ignorance, selfishness and oppression. Teach us to live in peace, to educate ourselves for justice and peace. Inspire us to act justly, and to revere all of God’s creation. Plant peace firmly in our hearts and in our world. Amen. 1. Reflection: o Scripture: “As long as you did it to one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” o Saying of Edmund: “One thing you may be sure of, that while you work for God, whether you succeed or not, he will amply reward you.” o Quotation from Munnar Chapter, 2008: “Let us open our hearts to the cry of the poor and the earth and be moved to prophetic action through advocacy and works for justice.” (Munnar, 2008) 1. Special Prayer for Day One: Litany of Blessed Edmund (Part One) Blessed Edmund, Model of strength, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of risk, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of gentleness, Be our guide.
Blessed Edmund, Model of trust, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of courage, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of patience, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of openness, Be our guide. Blessed Edmund, Model of perseverance, Be our guide. 1. Prayer for Special Intention O God, you inspired Blessed Edmund Rice to follow your Son in a life of consecrated service of the poor and of all in need of a truly Christian education. Grant through his intercession the petition(s) I now make……………………………….. and so hasten the day when he will be publicly honoured as a saint. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed Edmund Rice, Presentation Brother and Christian Brother, pray for us. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 2: Tuesday,27 April: Same as Day 1 except Nos. 3 and 4 below: 3. Reflection: (a) Scripture: “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” (b) Saying of Edmund: “Be intent on prayer and whatever may happen will turn to our good.” (c) Quotation from Grace Dieu Chapter, 2005: “Our experience of death and dying as well as growth and new life…calls for a spirituality through which we become ever more deeply immersed in the mystery of his Cross so that we may proclaim the power of his hope- filled resurrection.” 4. Special Prayer for Day 2: Litany of Blessed Edmund [Part Two]: Blessed Edmund, Liberator of the oppressed, Lead us to life. Blessed Edmund, Comforter of the afflicted, Lead us to life. Blessed Edmund, Breaker of bondage, Lead us to life. Blessed Edmund, Sharer in Christ’s ministry, Lead us to life. Bl essed Edmund, Participant in Christ’s Passion, Lead us to life. Blessed Edmund, Seeker of God’s will, Lead us to life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 3: Wednesday, 28 April: Same as Day 1 except Nos. 3 and 4 below.
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